FTC Announces 2017 Military Consumer Financial Workshop: Protecting Those Who Protect Our Nation

The Federal Trade Commission announced today that it is hosting a workshop in San Antonio, Texas, on July 19, 2017, to examine financial issues and scams that can affect military consumers, including active duty servicemembers in all branches and veterans. The workshop also will discuss FTC resources available to military consumer advocates and representatives on financial readiness and fraud prevention, including the FTC’s Military Consumer Toolkit, available at Military.Consumer.gov. The toolkit allows personal financial managers, counselors, and others in the military community to share practical financial readiness tips and can be individually customized and easily shared on social media.

“Servicemembers and veterans have made great sacrifices to serve our country,” said FTC Acting Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen. “Protecting military consumers through law enforcement and education is a top priority of the Commission.” 

The FTC’s workshop Military Consumer Financial Workshop: Protecting Those Who Protect Our Nation will bring together military consumer advocates, consumer groups, government representatives (local, state, and federal), military legal services and legal clinics (including those at universities), all service branches, and industry representatives.

Topics of discussion at the daylong event  include, for example:

• Auto purchase, financing, and leasing
• Student and other lending, including installment credit practices
• Information security issues
• Financial literacy and capability, including identity theft and financial resources
• Avoiding scams

Panelists interested in participating in this workshop should email any relevant information to: militaryconsumerworkshop@ftc.gov.

The workshop, which is free and open to the public, will take place at Chapman Auditorium, Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas 78212. A detailed agenda will be published at a later date.

The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. You can learn more about consumer topics and file a consumer complaint online or by calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357). Like the FTC on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources.